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state of health affairs
Three students of class X booked for kidnapping senior girl student
Weather likely to remain dry for 2 days
A rickshaw-puller catches forty winks in Bathinda on a sunny Wednesday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma
Dry days make organisers in city reschedule their parties
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Youth fest lends a dash of colour
Another youth killed in mishap on Bathinda-Goniana road
Blood donation camps held
Election Commission hailed
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Staff shortage stares at civil hospital
Rise in city population notwithstanding, the hospital is functioning with the staff strength fixed for it over 35 years ago Sushil Goyal Tribune News Service
Bathinda, February 1
Over the period, the population of the city and its periphery has increased manifold but the number of doctors, paramedical staff and other employees at the hospital remains the same. Then, the staff strength was in accordance with the number of patients and beds (100) at the hospital. However, on many occasions the hospital authorities have to manage with nearly 175 beds in the hospital to cater to the heavy rush of patients. The authorities want the up-gradation of the hospital to a 200-bed unit. According to information available, the hospital has 18 doctors and 22 staff nurses against the sanctioned strength of 29 staff nurses. Besides, the hospital has 33 class IV employees and 22 safai sewaks. The hospital authorities say that it is difficult for them to run the hospital in a proper manner with the given staff strength. According to an official in the health department, the hospital requires at least 30 medical officers (instead of 18) as they have to do various works, including duties related to post-mortem, VIPs, jails, court evidence, blood donation camps and on-call duty besides attending to the out-patient deparment (OPD) and emergency ward as emergency medical officer (EMO). Out of the 29 posts of staff nurse, seven are vacant nowadays. Besides, four staff nurses have been performing duties in the operation theatre, one at the blood bank and one at the dialysis unit. One of the staff nurse is reportedly absent from duty while another was on maternity leave. Thus, out of total 29, only 14 staff nurses have been performing duties in the medical, surgery, special, eye, ENT, orthopaedic and emergency wards these days. The hospital authorities say that since they have shift duties in the wards, at least 30 staff nurses are required for the smooth functioning of wards. There are 33 class IV employees in the hospital but due to heavy work there is requirement of at least 70 such employees. A doctor said: "In every OPD, one class IV employee is required. So, there should be 20 class IV employees for the purpose. Besides, due to shift duties in the hospital wards, at least five class IV employees are required for every ward like surgical, medical, special and emergency." Sometimes, the patients complain that they don't find a doctor in OPD when they go there to get themselves examined. However, an official at the Civil Hospital countered that on several occasions, doctors had to go to perform VIP duty, post-mortem duty, or any other such duty.
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Three students of class X booked for kidnapping senior girl student
Bathinda, February 1 The wailing father of the girl said the girl had gone for tuition in the evening near her house and a boy claiming to be her brother, approached the teacher to take the girl along with him from tuition and lied that her father had suddenly fallen ill. The boy also made the teacher listen to the ‘ailing father’ over the mobile phone. The teacher expressed her apprehension over the voice of the father and told the boy to wait before leaving. The boy, however, fled on his bike along with the girl despite reported protests by the girl. The local Mandir Committee president Manoj Kumar Neeta said members of poor families avoid highlighting the matter with neighbours and other family members fearing social stigma. The family members are still not sure how the girl was kidnapped by the students of her own school, he said. Neeta alleged that the role of the police was not praiseworthy as it failed to initiate any concrete measure in this regard. The family members of one of the main accused in the case have political connections and knew a local politician who is now trying to suppress the matter using connection with higher police functionaries. “We have demanded stringent and immediate action in this regard failing which we may also resort to launch an agitation,” he said. He added that the mother of the girl has been unconscious since the day of kidnapping. The girl has one elder brother and a younger sister who too are studying. Investigating officer in the case, sub-insepctor Jaswant Singh said one of the three boys has been arrested and the missing boy and girl too would be traced soon. It seems that the boys have planned the kidnapping and they might be in touch with the girl in school. The matter will become clear once the missing boy and girl are traced. One of the two boys who helped kidnapping has been arrested and another boy would be brought to the police station by his family members tomorrow. The parents of third boy too have been supporting the police in tracing the missing boy and girl, he said. He pointed out that the bike used in kidnapping has been recovered. The three went up to Bhucho Mandi on train from where they purchased two tickets for the boy and the girl and they returned to Bathinda on a bus. The main accused is learnt to have switched off his mobile phone and efforts would be made to locate them in a day or two. He said if their crime is proved, the students may be awarded up to 10 years of imprisonment for kidnapping a minor girl. He said a case under Sections 363-A, 366, 120-B and 345 of the IPC has been registered at the Civil Lines Police Station. |
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Weather likely to remain dry for 2 days
Bathinda, February 1 Wednesday proved to be another such ‘cosy’ day in Bathinda and adjoining areas as mercury hovered around 5 degrees Celsius in the morning while afternoon remained relatively warm with mercury ranging near 20 degrees Celsius. Today is the fourth consecutive day when mercury climbed considerably in a single day within a few hours. The city recorded 4.5 degrees Celsius at 7.30 am on Wednesday, as per the Agri-met Department of the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) regional station, Bathinda. The day’s high was 19.6 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature on Tuesday was 4.2 degrees Celsius, nearly 2 degrees higher than Monday when minimum temperature recorded was 2.6 degrees Celsius. The maximum on Tuesday was 20 degrees Celsius, almost similar to Monday. However, a change in the mood of mercury is in the offing as weathermen have also predicted about the possibility of partial cloudiness. As per the forecast made on Tuesday, the weather is likely to remain mainly dry in the next two to three days with possibility of partial cloudiness during the period. The night temperature may also increase during the period, the weathermen said. |
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Dry days make organisers in city reschedule their parties
Bathinda, February 1 "Although the wedding could not have been postponed, we decided to postpone the cocktail party that we had planned for January 29, a day before the election. What is a cocktail party without alcohol? I am now hosting it for my friends on Thursday at a city hotel," says Amandeep Gill, a resident of Model Town, Phase III. Not wishing to be named, the manager of a resort located on the outskirts of the city while speaking to Bathinda Tribune agreed that a couple of parties were cancelled after the announcement of dry days. "A pre-wedding function, a business dinner and a birthday party were cancelled. Although one of the customers asked us if we could somehow 'sneak in some alcohol', we didn't want to get into any problem and thought it wise to let them cancel the booking. One of the three parties has been rescheduled at our resort only," he said. In a communiqué released by the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, January 28 (starting 5pm) to January 30 (till 5 pm) were to be observed as dry days. The order prohibited "the sale, service and distribution of any spirituous, fermented or intoxicating liquor at a shop, hotel, restaurant, club, tavern, eating joint or any other place (public or private) within Bathinda district during the given period". Subhash Singla, a student at a local college, who had to postpone a surprise birthday party that he had arranged for his father, hosted it on Tuesday. "Although my father's birthday was on Saturday, I had to reschedule the party to Tuesday, thanks to the 'dry days'. I was planning to invite many of his friends and family members. Celebrating his birthday belatedly was a better idea than celebrating it without alcohol," he said. "Yes, it is true. A few parties were cancelled after the EC order. Some of those parties were rescheduled for this week. Dry days cause a loss of business to us. But we had to abide by the rules," said the owner of a city hotel. Fact file In a communiqué released by the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, January 28 (starting 5pm) to January 30 (till 5 pm) were to be observed as dry days. The order prohibited "the sale, service and distribution of any spirituous, fermented or intoxicating liquor at a shop, hotel, restaurant, club, tavern, eating joint or any other place (public or private) within Bathinda district during the given period". |
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Youth fest lends a dash of colour
Bathinda, February 1 Dr Gurnek Singh, vice-chancellor of Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib, was the chief guest on the occasion. Dr HS Gill, Chairman, Adesh Foundation, was the guest of honour and Lt Col Dr GPI Singh, Director Principal, presided over the function. Nearly 40 colleges from different parts of the zone participated in poetry recitation, turban tying competition, translation of Gurbani and quiz etc. In his inaugural speech, Dr GPI Singh welcomed the guests and the students who were present during the function. He appreciated the efforts made by Dr Avininder Singh, zonal head and state secretary, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, Faridkot-Muktsar-Bathinda zone in making the function a success. Poetry recitation was in Punjabi in which a single student from each college participated. In turban tying competition, the time given was 15 minutes and both the boys and girls participated in the event. In Gurbani translation, the extract was taken from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the time given for translation to the participants was only 3 to 5 minutes. In the quiz competition, the field of interest was Assa Ki war. The written examination for the same started at 9.30 am. All these activities were judged by Prabhjit Kaur, wife of the Director Principal, AIMSR. The chief guest appreciated the joint effort of AIMSR and Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle in promoting the rich heritage of the Sikh culture among the youth. The result declared were as follows: Poetry recitation: 1st prize: Sarbrinder Singh, Bhai Maha Singh College, Muktsar; Turban tying: Boys 1st prize: Kulwinder Singh, Giani Zail Singh College, Bathinda; Girls 1st prize: Prabhjot Kaur, Government Polytechnic College, Patiala.; Gurbani Translation: 1st prize: Rupinderjit Kaur, Bhai Assa Singh Girls College, Goniana: Quiz competition: 1st prize- Ramandeep Kaur and Samita Rani, SBRS College.
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Another youth killed in mishap on Bathinda-Goniana road
Bathinda, February 1 As per the police, the victim was driving a Maruti 800, which was allegedly hit by a speeding truck coming from Goniana side late on Tuesday night. As per the sources, Roshan was on his way back to home in Goniana after dropping someone in Khemuana village. Police officials present at the incident site said that Roshan was dealing in supplying labour to government contractors and was on returning home after dropping labourers. Volunteers of a local NGO rushed to the spot and extricated the body of the victim from the mangled remains of the car. One of the volunteers, Sandeep Kumar said that the accident took place adjoining the cremation ground near Balar Vinju village. The truck driver, apparently, made an unsuccessful attempt to escape from the spot along with the truck. In his bid, he dragged the Maruti upto few meters. It took more than an hour to extricate the body of the boy which was crushed in the damaged car. The car remained stationed on the road with broken pieces of windowpanes lying on the road. The traffic moved at snail's pace on the road till the accidental vehicles were removed from the spot. While the truck overturned at roadside the car remain stationed in the middle of road till afternoon. Police officials recording the statements of the onlookers said that a case in this connection would be registered against the truck driver who is at large. The officials said that the body of the deceased has been handed over to his family members after conducting a post mortem at local government hospital. It is pertinent to mention here that the number of accidents have assumed an alarming proportion on the Bathinda-Goniana road during the past few months. Two persons including a young boy from Parasram Nagar lost their lives in a similar accident on Bathinda-Goniana road four days ago. Fact file * The deceased, 26 years old, Roshan Singh, was a resident of village Khemuana here. * The victim was driving a Maruti-800, which was hit by a speeding truck coming from the Goniana side. * Roshan was dealing in supplying labour to government contractors and was returning home after dropping the labourers. * It took more than an hour to extricate the body of the boy which was crushed in the damaged car. * The truck driver, apparently, made an unsuccessful attempt to escape from the spot along with the truck.
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Blood donation camps held
Bathinda, February 1 A team of the Blood Bank of local Civil Hospital collected the blood units at the camp. As many as 23 persons, including two women, donated blood. President of the NGO Vijay Bhat said today the former students of the school and the villagers donated their blood. He said on the occasion choreography on patriotism was presented. Magic tricks were also presented to educate the students. Pamphlets, containing information about the blood donation, were also distributed among the students. Later, students were asked questions about the blood donation. Another blood donation camp was organised by Paul Merchants near Hanuman Chowk here today. The blood transfusion officer (BTO) at the Blood Bank of Civil Hospital here Dr Inderdeep Singh Sra said the blood bank team collected 29 units at the camp. He said the Paul Merchants had also organised such a blood donation camp last year. Dr Sra said the blood donation camps were also being organised in the colleges to mark the Youth month. He said under this programme a camp had been organised at the Engineering College here recently while another camp had been organised at the Government Rajindra College here. Dr Sra asked the youths to donate blood voluntarily in a big way at the blood donation camps or at the Blood Bank for saving the lives of needy patients. |
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Election Commission hailed
Bathinda, February 1 In a letter sent to the EC, Lt Col Daya Singh (retd), a local resident, has pointed out that the decision to allow party stands away from polling booths to was not in keeping with the 'secret ballot system' to protect the voter's identity. Local leaders and
agents spot their opponents and can unleash vendetta. The party stands also leads to sloganeering at near polling booths leading to tension and possible violence. He also underlined the need to encourage Defence voters to vote at their place of duty. |
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Bathinda, February 1
Bathinda, February 1
